Z820 Firmware update bricked machine

[r1_rn22]

Hi,

today I wanted to upgrade the BIOS of my machine to 3.96 (as "strongly recommended" by HP support site), with the result that it now does not do anything anymore. I used the Windows tool to do the upgrade, which finished flashing at block 4096, and then freezed the computer. When powered back on, the blue light at front and back lights, the fans are at full speed, and thats it. I tried to put the BIOS file on a USB stick as described, with 1x blinking of it, and then nothing more happens, the change of Crisis Jumper does not change anything, also BIOS reset, CMOS reset suggestions do not change anything.

I guess the BIOS upgrade destroyed the mainboard - correct?

Any other options, apart from buying a new mainboard?

[NathanS20]

You can try to recover the BIOS using a key press combination or a USB recovery drive.

NOTE: 

These recovery processes are not supported on computers with the HP Sure Start feature.

Recover the BIOS using a key press combination

Many HP computers have an HP BIOS Restore tool that might be able to recover the BIOS from an earlier version and restore basic function. This tool might not be able to recover the BIOS, depending on the cause of the corruption.

NOTE: This recovery process is not supported on computers with the HP Sure Start feature.

Restoring the BIOS on HP Computers with a Key Press Combination

Learn how to restore the BIOS on your HP computer with a key press combination.

1. Turn off the computer and be sure that the AC adapter is connected to power.

2. Press and hold the Windows + b keys, and then simultaneously press the power button.

3. After 2 to 3 seconds, continue to press and hold the Windows + b keys, but release the power button. You might hear a series of beeps.

   • If the HP BIOS Update screen is not displayed, repeat the previous steps but press the Windows + v keys. If the screen is still not displayed, your computer might not support the feature or there is a hard drive issue.

   • If the power light turns off, the power button was held too long. Repeat the previous steps, making sure that you press and hold the power button for only 2 to 3 seconds.

   • If a BIOS recovery message is displayed repeatedly, see Recover the BIOS using a USB recovery drive.

   • If a message displays that the computer improperly shut down or a boot problem is detected, follow the on-screen instructions to resolve the error.

   • If Windows starts, update to the latest BIOS version. Go to HP Consumer Notebook PCs - Updating the BIOS (Basic Input Output System) (Windows) or HP Business Notebook PCs - Updating the BIOS (Basic Input Output System) for more information.

   The HP BIOS Update screen is displayed and the recovery begins automatically.

   If this recovery method fails, use another working computer to create a BIOS recovery flash drive to install the latest BIOS file.

[r1_rn22]

Thanks for coming back to me, Nathan. Unfortunately, this didnt cure the problem.

The fans still power up at 100%, and no reaction on the screen or the USB key.

[r1_rn22]

Ok, its on the way of being solved now. Something must have gone very wrong during the update of the BIOS..

I unsoldered the BIOS chip (25Q128) and put it in my programmer - it is not accessible when I tried to read it out.

That looks to me like the chip itself is broken.

Question now is: Can it be substituted with the same serial flash chip that I load with the file J63_0396.BIN from the DOS Flash folder, as its the same size of the serial flash?

[DGroves]

you will have to buy another board, flashing the chip will not restore the protected block of information that contains things like the mac address and the ME (mgmt information)

as far as i know there is no way to program this missing information unless you can read it from the systems working bios

[SDH]

Agree with DGroves.

You may know that there are two versions of the Z820 (but thankfully only one for the Z840). The cost of a Z820 version two recycled motherboard from eBay remains significant, and we can help with identifying those if you choose to go that route. However, you should really look into the cost of a Z840 recycled workstation from eBay. Those have come way down in cost. Also, you will know you have a functional workstation when it arrives. Plus, you will be able to know that the motherboard is "branded" for Windows rather than for Linux just by looking for the Windows sticker on the rear of the case and communicating your needs to the seller. That term refers to firmware codes related to Intel and Microsoft licensing.

Importantly, the technology in the Z840 is a quantum leap or two up from that of the Z820 v2. Our optimized Zx40 builds are much closer to the Zx G4 builds than to the Zx20 v2 builds here.

I've harped for years on the safety of upgrading BIOS from within BIOS... I'll post a PDF on how to do that with the Zx40 workstations here shortly. This is a feature built into the HP workstation's BIOS.

[SDH]

Attached is the updated PDF on how we safely upgrade BIOS from within BIOS. Some also may not know there was a Z440/Z640/Z840 BIOS update released in January of 2024.

For the Zx20 and xw series BIOS upgrades you just follow the steps but instead of making that "nest" of three folders you simply put the new .bin file onto the top level of the thumb drive, and put the thumb drive into its USB2 port with the workstation fully off so when you boot BIOS can see it from the very beginning. Simply and safe.

[r1_rn22]

Thank you for these good instructions and your explanation, SDH. Do you have any idea about the firmware mapping, where this reserved area is with the special informations?

[SDH]

I have no info on that. For what it is worth when a HP workstation gets to this point, I go buy a recycled motherboard off eBay (one of the v2 versions if it is a Zx20) and transplant it in. I personally have bricked only one workstation doing a BIOS upgrade and that was due to me taking a shortcut by using the app provided to update BIOS from within the OS rather than from within BIOS.

Big mistake... turned out to be a "longcut".

[r1_rn22]

Hello,

today I received the new chip, and flashed it with the BIOS file from the DOS Flash folder. It works.

Only thing missing is now the serial number of the board and the AMT MAC address, the rest works fine.

Windows is booting as normal, but as there is no serial number, its deactivated ...

Is there any way to set the board serial number?